Bacopa plant named ‘Duebahwi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Bacopa  plant named ‘Duebahwi’, characterized by its compact, mounding and trailing growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and large white-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Bacopa hybrid.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEBAHWI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Bacopa plant, botanically known as Bacopa hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duebahwi’.

The new Bacopa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Bacopa plants with numerous white-colored flowers.

The new Bacopa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany in July, 2007 of a proprietary selection of Bacopa hybrid identified as code number F-02-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Bacopa hybrid identified as code number F-05-019, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Bacopa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Bacopa plant cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since May, 2009, has shown that the unique features of this new Bacopa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Bacopa have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duebahwi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duebahwi’ as a new and distinct Bacopa plant:

-   -   1. Compact, mounding and trailing growth habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Bacopa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Bacopa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in branching habit as plants of the new Bacopa are more freely branching than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Bacopa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Bacopa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in growth habit as plants of the new Bacopa are more vigorous than plants of the male parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Bacopa have larger flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Bacopa can be compared to plants of the Bacopa ‘Scopia Gulliver Snow’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Bacopa differed primarily from plants of ‘Scopia Gulliver Snow’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Bacopa had shorter internodes than plants         of ‘Scopia Gulliver Snow’.     -   2. Plants of the new Bacopa had larger leaves than plants of         ‘Scopia Gulliver Snow’.     -   3. Plants of the new Bacopa had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Scopia Gulliver Snow’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Bacopa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Bacopa plant.

The photograph comprises a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duebahwi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures average 18° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were 13 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Bacopa hybrid ‘Duebahwi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Bacopa             hybrid identified as code number F-02-001, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Bacopa             hybrid identified as code number F-05-019, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, mounded and trailing plant             habit; vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit about six to eight             lateral branches develop per plant; pinching enhances             branching.         -   Plant height.—About 12 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 31.5 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 28 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 143B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 2 cm.         -   Shape.—Roughly cordate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Obtuse with cordate tendencies.         -   Margin.—Crenulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137D. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137D; venation, close to 144A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 7.8 mm. Diameter: About 1.9 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to             144C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Large single rotate flowers; freely             flowering habit with typically about 80 to 90 flowers             developing per plant; flowers face mostly upright.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about six             weeks after planting and flower continuously year-round in             moderate climates.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm by 1.8 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1.2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 150D.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Corolla consists of five petals             fused at the base. Length: About 8.4 mm. Width: About             7.8 mm. Shape: Roughly obovate. Apex: Obtuse, rounded. Base:             Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 155D. When opening, lower surface: Close to 155D; towards             the base, close to 28C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 155D; throat, close to 28B. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 155D; towards the base, close to 28C.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular calyx.             Length: About 5.2 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.             Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Close to 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About four.             Filament length: About 9 mm. Filament color: Close to 155B.             Anther shape: Cylindrical. Anther length: About 1.5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 13B. Amount of pollen: Abundant.             Pollen color: Close to 15B. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About             1.5 cm. Style length: About 1.2 cm. Style color: Close to             154C. Stigma color: Close to 151A. Ovary color: Close to             144B.         -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Bacopa have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Bacopa have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Bacopa. 

1. A new and distinct Bacopa plant named ‘Duebahwi’ as illustrated and described. 